The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning

Research Project: Improvement of the practicability of DIN V 18599 for residential buildings

Improvement of the practicability of DIN V 18599 for residential buildings

Project briefing

  • Status Completed
  • Project duration February 2020 – July 2021
  • Programme Future Building

Both the former Energy Saving Ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung 2014, EnEV 2014) and the current Buildings Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz, GEG) cite calculation standards to be used for the calculations required for energy performance certificates (Energiebedarfsausweise).

EnEV 2014 named DIN V 18599:2011-12 as the default calculation method and the much older DIN V 4108-6:2003-06 with DIN V 4701-10:2003-08 as an alternative (only for residential buildings). In practice, however, most energy performance certificates for residential buildings are based on DIN V 4108-6/4701-10. Especially for cases with no subsidies1 in mind, DIN V 18599 is rarely used. One often-stated reason is the norm – and hence the calculations required for the energy performance certificate – being too complicated.

The present study aims to achieve a significant improvement in the practicability of the DIN V 18599 for residential buildings.

Present hurdles in the application of the DIN V 18599 can be categorised as follows:

  • Scope and sheer page count (11 regular parts / almost 1,300 pages2)
  • Lack of experience/practice with the standard
  • Complexity of the calculation methods used and the combined approach, including building specifics, HVAC and lighting

Special attention has been paid to issues concerning the simplification of the calculation and future means of heating residential buildings.

The ITG Institut für Technische Gebäudeausrüstung Dresden was the contractor for the research project in collaboration with Ingenieurbüro Prof. Dr. Hauser GmbH.

1 In Germany, very energy-efficient buildings may qualify for certain subsidy schemes, depending on how far they exceed required energy standards.
2 Not counting the simplified table-based methods described in parts 12 and

Final report

Verbesserung der Anwendbarkeit der DIN V 18599 für Wohngebäude PDF 5MB File meets accessibility standards Type: Download

Contact us

  • Hans-Peter Lawrenz
    Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development
    Division WB 2 "Instrumente zur Emissionsminderung im Gebäudebereich"
    Phone: +49 228 99401-1331
    Email: hans-peter.lawrenz@bbr.bund.de

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